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Wisconsin Legislative SpotlightMaintained by the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB), this page provides an overview of recent and upcoming activities in the Wisconsin Legislature. The LRB revises its content weekly during legislative floorperiods. Links to more detailed information are highlighted in the text. |
With the signing of the biennial budget on June 29, the most recent legislative floorperiod has concluded. The next floorperiod will commence on September 15. The schedule of floorperiods for the 2009-2010 Legislative Session was established by 2009 Senate Joint Resolution 1.
On July 6, Tony Evers took the oath of office to become Wisconsin's 26th State Superintendent of Public Instruction at Hi-Mount Community School in Milwaukee.
The enrolled budget bill was presented to the Governor and signed into law on June 29, marking the first time since 1977 that the biennial budget was enacted before July 1, the date on which the new biennium begins. The signed budget bill became 2009 Wisconsin Act 28, and is available for viewing here. The text of the Governor’s budget address is available here, and the Governor’s veto message can be found here.
The LRB Library staff recommend these titles to help readers understand the state budget process. The Library's own Tap the Power bibliography, Executive Budget Support Documentation summarizes the publications produced by state agencies, the Governor's State Budget Office and the Legislature during the budget process. (The bibliography was issued before AB-75 was introduced and some titles refer to 2007/2009 budget documents but most titles and call numbers remain the same for 2009/2011 budget documents.) The State Budget Process / Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau (2009) (Informational Paper #70) describes how budget bills are introduced and enacted. The first section is a general overview. A detailed Appendix I discusses various exceptional circumstances. Additional appendices offer sample charts and graphs from the previous budget session to describe how appropriations and expenditures are distributed across the state. For a historical perspective on the state budget process, every two years the LRB publishes the Executive Budget Bills Enacted by the Wisconsin Legislature, 1931-2007 (Wisconsin Brief 07-8). This brief contains a chart showing the dates when each stage in the budget process was reached for every biennium since 1931.
The LRB Library has compiled information about RFID tags. RFID tags are special barcodes that emit a radio signal that can be used to locate items within a short distance. The tags are typically embedded with data describing the item that is tagged. Retailers, libraries, and government agencies use RFID tags to track the movement of goods and people. Advocates of RFID argue that RFID technology can greatly improve how the private and public sectors track and manage assets. Opponents are concerned about the invasion of personal privacy for consumers who purchase tagged items and the personal information that is accessible through ID cards containing RFID tags.
Recommended publications and sites regarding RFID uses and privacy concerns from the LRB Library:
The Senate Committee on Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection will hold a public hearing on July 22 at 1:05 p.m. on Senate Bill 13, dealing with commercial radio service; Senate Bill 218, dealing with telephone solicitations; and Senate Bill 190, dealing with renewals and extensions of business contracts.
See the Schedule of Committee Activities to view the full monthly calendar and details on times and locations of committee meetings.
The Legislative Reference Bureau recently issued the following publications:
The LRB is on Twitter
You can now access updates from the LRB on Twitter, including information on new LRB publications, new acquisitions by the LRB Library, and general information about the legislature, and the current legislative session. To find the LRB on Twitter, go to: http://twitter.com/WILRB.LRB Podcasts
The LRB has also released a new Podcast about the LRB state documents collection and one about Conflict in the Wisconsin Legislature.
Recent Publications by Other Legislative Service Agencies
Two Informational Bulletins were also issued by the LRB as companions to the 2007-2008 Wisconsin Blue Book: Informational Bulletin 07-1, “A Study Guide to the 2007-2008 Wisconsin Blue Book,” and Informational Bulletin 07-2, “Inside the 2007-2008 Wisconsin Blue Book.”
Send comments to LRB.Reference@legis.wisconsin.gov
Last revised: July 17, 2009